Darren Waller – 2021 #2 Dynasty TE
#83 Darren Waller, LV
bio:
Darren Waller is IDPE’s #2 dynasty TE in 2021. Drafted by Baltimore as a WR in the 6th Round (#204 overall) out of Georgia Tech in the 2015 draft. He was drafted as a WR but converted to TE.
attributes:
An athletic 6th-year tight end, he excels primarily as a receiver. He plays fast and is dangerous after the catch. He has good size and elite athleticism. Waller has a high College Prospect Score (CPS), but some data points in my model are not available.
| Age* | Height | Weight | 40 | Vertical | Broad | CPS |
| 29.0 | 6’6″ | 255 | 4.46 | 37.0″ | 10’5″ | 8.4 |
player grades:
Waller graded as the #3 tight end out of 71 qualified players in 2020, per PFF.com. He had improved every year of his career. He was suspended for the entire 2017 season due to the league’s substance abuse policy.
| Year | Overall | Receiving | Rushing |
| 2016 | 52.8 | 55.0 | – |
| 2017 | – | – | – |
| 2018 | 70.4 | 71.2 | 63.1 |
| 2019 | 83.2 | 86.8 | 60.3 |
| 2020 | 86.5 | 90.9 | – |
injury:
He hasn’t missed a game due to injury since 2016.
receiving:
Waller had 145 targets (#6 receiver), 107 receptions (#4 receiver), 1196 yards (#10 receiver), and 9 touchdowns (tied for #10 receiver) in 2020.
| Year | Rec | Yards | TD | TReFP* | Games | ReFP/G** | A4GM*** |
| 2018 | 6 | 75 | 0 | 10.5 | 4 | 2.6 | 42 |
| 2019 | 90 | 1145 | 3 | 177.5 | 16 | 11.1 | 178 |
| 2020 | 107 | 1196 | 9 | 227.1 | 16 | 14.2 | 227 |
**ReFP/G is Receiving Fantasy Points per Game
***A4GM is Adjusted for Games Missed
Note: Fantasy Points based on 1/2 point PPR
He averaged 99 receptions and 1171 yards over the last two years as a full-time starter. Therefore, he has an elite floor for a tight end in fantasy. He has also averaged 6 touchdowns over the same stretch, giving him a high ceiling in fantasy.
strength of schedule:
Las Vegas has the 9th most difficult schedule for tight ends in 2021, per PFF. The bye week is Week 8, and the most difficult matchups are Weeks 2, 5, 6, 7, and 16. LAR and Buffalo tight ends currently look like solid complimentary options based on strength of schedule.
contract:
Waller signed a four-year, $29.8 mil contract with Las Vegas in 2020. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024 (Age 32), though he has no guaranteed money on his contract after the 2021 season.
summary:
Darren Waller is an elite tight end. Most people are pretty surprised that he is already 29 years old, which is the only real knock against him. Expect him to compete for the overall #1 TE in 2021 and dynasty.
